Retired banker and philanthropist David Rockefeller has pledged 100 million dollars to Harvard University, the largest gift from an alumnus in the school's history, Harvard announced Friday.
Rockefeller, a member of the Harvard class of 1936 and scion of the wealthy family that started Standard Oil, made the pledge "to increase learning opportunities dramatically for Harvard undergraduates through international experiences and participation in the arts," a university statement said.
"Harvard opened my eyes and my mind to the world," Rockefeller said.
"It was because of Harvard's language requirement that I spent the summer of 1933 in Germany and saw firsthand the ominous rise of fascism. And it was at Harvard that I first studied art history. Harvard provided me with an intellectual framework to understand what I was seeing and experiencing that has stayed with me for my entire life."
"This is a magnificent act of generosity from an extraordinary friend of Harvard," said Drew Faust, president of Harvard University.
"Our students stand to benefit immeasurably from greater opportunities to experience other cultures and to engage with the arts. Harvard has had occasion to thank David Rockefeller many times before, but never more so than today."
Some 70 million dollars of the gift will be allocated to undergraduates to learn about other cultures through courses, internships, service, work, research, or travel. Some will go to stipends for students who might otherwise not be able to afford international travel.
The remaining 30 million dollars will provide "hands-on learning opportunities in the arts," including funding of new study centers at Harvard's Fogg Art Museum.
Rockefeller has previously given 40 million dollars to Harvard, including 25 million to create the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.
The 92-year-old former head of Chase Manhattan Bank is a grandson of Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller.
